Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Wear It Well summary
Allison Bornstein
Reclaim Your Closet and Rediscover the Joy of Getting Dressed
17 mins
Brief summary
Wear It Well by Allison Bornstein addresses the importance of personal style and how it can impact our confidence and overall wellbeing. It provides practical advice on finding our unique style and using it as a tool for self-expression and self-care.
Table of Contents
Wear It Well
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
Resetting your closet
In 2020, Allison Bornstein had been a fashion stylist in New York for over a decade. But it was the pandemic and lockdown that gave her true insight into the impact clothes have on us all. Allison saw that people everywhere were struggling to love themselves, their clothes, and feel comfortable with their closets.
Allison realized that most people don’t see their closets as creative, expressive spaces, or recognize the link between loving their clothes and their confidence levels. But when you look good, you feel good. So how can you approach getting dressed in a healthier, more positive way?
Start with this simple exercise to banish the negative voices we all have about our bodies and closets.
Get a piece of paper and a pen, and sit comfortably in front of your closet. Now, take some deep breaths to ground yourself. Then, listen to what those negative voices are saying to you – maybe that you're too old or young for certain clothes, or that you don't have time to care about fashion. Write down whatever the voices say.
Reflect on how believing these voices has impacted you. Then, throw that paper away.
Next, spend some time tuning into your relationship with your closet. Pay more attention to what makes you feel good when you get dressed. Tune into the styles, fabrics, and colors that light you up inside. This will help you see your closet as a supportive place full of possibility, not a source of anxiety.
Finally, stop pursuing some idealized version of your appearance and start loving your unique self. Now, you’re ready to transform your closet into a space grounded in what's true for you, using the AB Closet-Editing System.
First, pull out everything you wear regularly at the moment. Don't judge these clothes yet – just observe what your current go-to outfits are.
Next, pull out everything you never wear. It doesn't matter why – if you haven't worn it recently, it goes in this pile.
Now, sort your never-worn clothes into three piles. Pile One is clothes you'll never wear again – donate these. Pile Two is clothes you can't wear now but want to keep, like maternity clothes. Label these and put them into storage. Pile Three is clothes you love but don't know how to style – this pile represents opportunity.
Make emotional overrides if needed, keeping pieces that spark creativity in you.
Finally, organize your closet. Arrange your regulars and how-to-style piles by color or type, so you can see all your options at once. Do the same with accessories.
With your closet reset, it's time to embrace the power of clothes for self-expression. Let’s explore that next.
Want to see all full key ideas from Wear It Well?
Key ideas in Wear It Well
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Wear It Well about?
Wear It Well (2023) is a guide to using fashion as a tool for self-discovery and self-expression. Discover your personal style using the Three-Word Method and AB Closet-Editing System, curate a wardrobe that reflects your authentic self, eliminate items that don't fit your lifestyle, and create sustainable looks by shopping your closet.
Wear It Well Review
Wear It Well (2021) by Allison Bornstein is a compelling guide to creating a stylish and confident wardrobe that reflects your unique personality. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With its practical tips and advice, it empowers readers to curate a wardrobe that makes them feel good and confident every day.
- By combining fashion expertise, personal stories, and interviews with style icons, the book offers a fresh and relatable perspective on fashion.
- Its creative outfit ideas and suggestions for styling different pieces ensure that readers will never be bored with their wardrobe again.
Who should read Wear It Well?
- Fashion enthusiasts
- People wanting to discover their personal style
- Anyone who wishes getting dressed was easier and more fun
Categories with Wear It Well
Book summaries like Wear It Well
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
Fooled by Randomness
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and the Markets
20 min
4.6
Mostly What God Does
Savannah Guthrie
Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere
18 min
4.3
4.8 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
34 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Wear It Well FAQs
What is the main message of Wear It Well?
The main message of Wear It Well is how to cultivate a confident and authentic personal style.
How long does it take to read Wear It Well?
The reading time for Wear It Well varies by reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Wear It Well a good book? Is it worth reading?
Wear It Well is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their style. It provides practical tips and advice that can transform your wardrobe.
Who is the author of Wear It Well?
The author of Wear It Well is Allison Bornstein.
What to read after Wear It Well?
If you're wondering what to read next after Wear It Well, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Western Guide to Feng Shui by Terah Kathryn Collins
- Relational Intelligence by Dharius Daniels
- 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson
- Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven
- 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness by Jim Rohn
- Relationships at Work by Rachel B. Simon
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
- Beyond Tidy by Annmarie Brogan and Marie Limpert
- 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
- How Not to Age by Michael Greger